Sewing-machine.



P. H. RICHARDS.

SEWING MACHINE.. l APPLIOTIN FILED MAY Z5, 1899. 1 O88 626 Patented Feb. 24, 1914,

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

'leggiiiiiiiiiinuum Fig. 1.

Witness e.; Ina/wz for i F. 11; RIGHARDS.

`SEWING MACHINE. l APPLIGTION PILBD un as, 1899. 1,088,626. Patented Feb. 24, 1914,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I lllilw M Bum F. H. RICHARDS.

, SEWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1955's'.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

a SHEETS-SHEET a.

u. am

.rmlfwinl operative partslcaelrrvfv the bed-plate or the vmachine, with `suolileed-plate,in dotted lines.

Y which will v'per-mi manner, #of Aa reci l it " nsm-eor instance, the needle-and holding present improvements.

` forming.inechanisxnwFigs.. 5, "75l-and t) :are

*line zr-fz', Fig. 8,'and showing-thelooper State o Connecticunhave invented' certain lnew and us'eful'wmprovements in Sewingu ing' mechanism located belw tjhefbed-plate llike parts in all the liguresof the drawings.

v- 'UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE .rNANCI-sn.v RICHARDS, 4or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, AssICNoR To JEREMIAH EvAnTs TRACY, orNEw Your, N. Y.

, sEwING-MlnCHINE.

To allwhom t may concern:

`Be it known that I, FRANCIS H.- RICHARDS, a' citizen oftheUnited States, residing at Hartford, in the county of, Ilart-ordl and Machines, of which the following is a speciicatiom' A I This-i bntion relates tofsewingfmachines, an' object Ytbeiiigz; to provideanxirnproved aorganization 1f of 'Stitelh forming; mechanism uSef-in fa practicalv lprtvcatoryneedle and a two-hook rotatahle'l'ooper.

ik primary 'object of `the invention is to-l provideilneans for'receving `orftakrng a loop from -oneffpart of the stitehorming mechathe same in position to be taken by. or trans` fer'rnpY it to another pai-tf of such stitchforming mechanism-for instance, an underthread carrying` device, such `as a rotatable loopen-whereby the'needle can be substantially or completely out 4of the work before the thread is pulled therethrough by such louper, and whereby also the droppingn of i stitch is prevented and the consequentl making of each successive stitch insured.

ln the drawings accompanying; and formpart ot't'his specication, Figure l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view illustrating a ,sewing-machine embodying* my Fig. 2 is a section on line ma: Fig. l, looking-towardthe left. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of the Figs. 4t, 6, and 8 are end views of the Inachine, looking" toward the right and aline trating' successive positions of. the'stitchtop views of that portion ofthe m'stilteh-tornriand corresponding, respectively,'with Wings. 4, 6, and '8: Fig.- yl()I isla siden'riew of one forni of `transferrer or `-,needle-loop, talker,` a part being in section. Figll'ris atop view l thereof. Fig'. V12 is an end View thereof looking .toward the left; and 13 is a. cross-sectional view .taken substantially-.in

about to take a loop from the transterrer or needle-loop taker. n I l v A Similar characters of reference 'designate iter instance, asa .rotatable loopen, an l Init the :stm'le'to :drawt'hethread through'the inn' ,in a needle-barreceiving head LK.

speciiioation of Letters Patent. Patented Febjgrl, 1914. Appnpauon mea May a5, Issa. serial No. 718,216. i

.depending somewhat upon the throwing out of -aloop by the needle. Hence, when the needle-loopis not thrown out, owingr to'lvari'- ons causesas, for. instance, when the thread fis kinky and twists around the needle, or the friction' is not sufficient on 4the upward passage-,of the needle to form such. loop'kthe looper'fails to receive the loopand the stitch is lost. Moreover, since the' needle must `p rojr-ict-suiiciently far" through the Work to permit thehooks ofthelooperto take 'the loop. adjacent to the eye of the needlefit-'ollows that the looper draws the;l

threadl through the work simultaneously with the upward passage of the needle, 'which not.l only -tends to fra-y and break the thread, but also to materially retard the action ofthemaehine, Vsince the needle Atends to wedgethe thread in the' work, thus retarding' the drawing thereof therethrough by the loopen. The improvement is designed for the purpose of ,preventing this loss of stitch,v

and also to provide a machine to produce workmore closely resembling hand-sewing-that is to say, a machine in which the needle willhave passed substantially or entirely through the work before the dra-wing" of the thread through `the needle-aperture, whereby the breakage of the thread is prevented-and for this purpose an improved means is provided adapted ,to receive or ta-ke during the Y passage' of the needle through the work, and to' Y 4 to a device carrying thequnder thread rvorlr while thejneedleds' out of the needleaperture. i n i n In torni' of n'iy invention, and willich may be its 'preferred form,i`t desired, herein shown as applied to a sewing-machine the framework comprises a hed-plate 2, having1 a throat-plate 3, a dependidnlir loupers'upporting bracket- ,and upright hollow arin 5., at one end of said bed-plate and carrying"- a horizontal hollow arm '16, terminait `The `loo'per :mechanism shown herein co'inprises a rotatable Ylouper 8,1# :suine suitable the loop from, theneedleand" hold'the same v.give or transfer, thesame loo form7 provided witha pai r ol" loop-engaging J1`0 the ' .and thereby the needle.

` hooks or members 9;

' pulley 17.

This looper 8 is supported in posit-ion for rotary movement by a guideway or track 10, formed as a part of the depending bracket 4, and is removable from said track on the vremoval of 'a /retaining-plate 12, forming one member of said guideway The looper is provided with a series of driver sockets 1S for the reception of the teeth or pins 14 of the driver 15, mounted on a driving-shaft-l, journaled at the` under side ofjhe bed-plate and which carries at its opposite end the .usual drivin This lcoper-drivingshaft, whic constitutesthe main driving-shaft p of the -machine,

right arm 5 with' a crank 18, for the purpose hereinafter set forth. The looper' is shown supported oblioluelyl tolitsdriver, and in such position in the present instance that its hooks are relatively remotely\disposed to thepath of the needlel being both below and at one side of the loop normally formed thereby. Theneedle mechanism herein shown comprises a needle-bar 20, 'suitably guided in head of the machine and carrying a needle 21-for reciprocatory movement. For driving this needle-bar and its needle a rock-shaft 20 is shown mounted in the horizontal arm 6 and provided with a crankarm 22, connected with the vneedle-bar by a link 24, whereby on the rocking of said shaft the needle-bar is raised'and lowered For rocking the shaft it is shown connected withr the main driving or looper shaft- 16, and forthis purposesuch needle rockshaft 20 is provided with an arm 25, rigidly secured. thereto. Connecting this arm 25 with the crank 18 of the-looper-'shalft is `a vlever system, shown herein comprising a bell-crank lever o rocker 26, pivotally secured to the interior of the'upright arm 5 and having its upper end linked to the arm 25 of the needle rock-shaft 20, and its lower end linked to the crank 18, whereby on the 'f rotation of vsaid driving shaft the rocker 26 ed on will operate to rock the driving-shaft and thereby reciprocate the needle. This lever system is so organized thatthe needlewill' p ass through the work twice for each rotation of the main driving-shaft and the looper and'in time to permit a loop to be formed for each hook of said looper.

A suitable take-up device is provided, which in the construction shown is also operatively connected with-the `main drivingshaft.' In the form shown this device comprises an arm 30, pivotally secured to an arm 31, {iXed on a rock-shaft 32, mounted in the horizontal arm rG. This rock-shaft is connected by a rod 33 with a pivoted member 34, carrying a roll 35 in position to be engaged by a cam 36, mountt-he maindriving-shaft, whereby on is provided below the hollow up-f- 4able' pressen-foot bar..40,4h

the form shown loop-take-up the rotation of said shaft said camoperates to elevate said roll-carrying member and' thereby actuate the rock-shaft. This looptake-up arnr'() isprovided with appin A37, intermediate whicli-and a pin 38,.. carried by the Varm 31, is secured a spring 39. This loop-take-up arm() is also provided with an abutment toengage the pin. 38 of said arm/ 31, whereb Vthe take-up arm is movable with' said-roek-shaft, and, owing to its pivotal) connection, independently thereof,

suchfindependent lmovement being limited` by "saidl spring. y n

Carried thevhead .isvthe usual adjust- /ving'the pressertoot 41 for` engaging the work and which may be shifted infnny desired manner. The work-feed mechanism, in the present instancejcomprises a fo-ur-way feed, and in itbomprises a feed-dogl bar 42, the outer edd oflqwhich is connected to arock-shaft43, mounted-below the bed-plate, the opposite endof which shaft is connected to a forked member 44, the-,forked part of .which 'extends around .-the main driving.

shaft and carries a laterally-extending roll 45 'in position to be engaged by a cam 46, mounted on said` driving-shaft, said roll being held-in engagement with said cam by a spring 47. By this mechanism, on the rotation of the main driving-shaft the cam is eiectivelto shift the feed-dog in a horizontal path in vone direction, while the spring is. i

efective toreturnsaid feed-dog to its norniahpcsition and in this manner feed the material. To shift this feed-dog into and out of engagement -with `the work, it is .shown connected intermediate its ends with another rock-shaft 4S, `mounted on said framework and to the opposite end of which is secured', anv arm 49,"provi'ded with a roll 50 inl engagement with a cam 51, also mounted on the main driving-shaft, said roll being held in engagement with said cam by a spring 51', secured t-o said, arm andto a fixture. On the rotation of said drivingshaft the cam 51 operates to shift the feeddog in one direction, while the spring is effective to-return itto its normal position.

It is to be understood that in practice the feedmechanism is timed, as is also the looptake-up means, to properly effect the feed of the material and take up nthe loop after it leaves the looper.

In the present construction it will be observed that the looper does not receive or take a loop directly from the needle and that the hooks thereof, when in their loop-taking positions, aire remotely disposed relatively to the path 'of the needle. For the purpose of receiving or taking a loop from the needle and holding it in readiness .to be taken by or transferring it to said looper, suitable mechanism is provided, by means'of which the taking'of the loop each time by the looper is ferrer (designated `in a positively insured. lThis means, in the present construction, comprises- -atrans#` eneral.171,155'by A) adapted to pass intenmet needle and to Vtransfer the same tothe hooks ofthe loper` rllhis, member 60 comprises a -looplreceiving;'or carrying portion or blade and a shank 67. Some suitable means adaptedto shift this transferrer in 'the'v desired manner may be used toaceomplish this object. In the present construction, however,

this' shifting operation iseffected` byA the main :driving-shaft through suitable intermediate vinstrmnentalities, and for this pun pose it is shown provided with a cam 61, ef festive tafeugage a roll 62, carried by a bifureatd arm,-;63, encircling said shaft, the opposite-endbf which arm is connected to I crank 63 at one end cfa-crankshaft 64.

'.llhe opposite end of thisrock-shaft is ,pro

vided with a crank 64', a crank-pin 65, ein` tending therefrom into a bifurcated or recessedportion 66 of the `shank 67 of vthe transferrer, whereby on the operation of said rock-shaftby the cam the transferrer will be shifted into position to take a loop from the needle,l it being returned .into its vnormal position by a spring i68, fixed to the framework and to said bifurcated arm, and yby means of which also the roll 62 is maintained in permanent engagement with its cam. During this shifting movement, it is desirable ,that theV fc'rwa-rd; end of the trans` ferrer shall 'have a movement downward from'the needle toward the looper, so'as -to carry the loop into position to be engaged by 4the hooks ofthe looper, and to effect this movement in one way the transferreris vShown provided Withia curved slot 163, re-

movement laterally fof er i away from the,

till

ceiving a projectionor pin 164, carried by the framework, .therear end offsaid transferrerhaving a straight s1ot.16 5 to receive- 'a corresponding projection or pin 166, whichA acts as a guide lfor `the same. 0n the' shiftingv of the transferrer the curvatu'reuof the slot 163 will, in a manner readily under- Mstood, coperatewith the pin 164 and shift the transferrer downwardly. is also Adesirable that said transfert-er Vshall have a needle horiaontallyin the plane of the loop, and for this purpose the transferrer is shown proyidedwwith a pair of curved slots 168, into which. extend a pair vof.'projections or pins 69, :(shown herein carried by the projections 164 and 166,) -wherebyjo-n lthe shift `img of. the .transferrer the .curvature of" .these ate the needle and its thread'and form a loop for .the louper' Slots, in connection with the pins 69, will vmove 'the ytransferrer toward and from the uneedle in a manner'which' will be readily perceived. These slots constitute guideways, while the pins. projections constitute guides and in' practice could be reversed so that the guides will be carried by the transferrer and the guideways by the framework. In the present instance the loop-engaging portion orblade of the transferrer is shown of angular formation, having a v:grooved formation at its under side, whereby the thread is extended across the lower edges of the transferrer so as to permit the hooks of the looper to pass above the thread and so positively insure the taking ofthe loop. This construction also permits the transferrer to' overlap the periphery of the looper and 'bring the same into closer relationship therewith. By the provisie-11 of this transferrer it'will be seen that the hooks of the loopcr do not have to project laterally in order to be brought into closerelationship with the needle, as heretofore, but such hooks may be `lformed midway of the sidesl` of said looper, slnce the transferrer 1s shifted directly over its periphery;

In practice tlle needle may be provided with a groove or recess to permit the point of the transferrer to pass between the needle and the thread. lf desired, a guide 71 may also be provided, into which the point of the needle projects during the taking of the loop by the transferrer, whereby the bending or flexingof the needle and the missing of a stitch will be prevented.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the transferrer in' the present instance is open ated from the looper or maindrivingshaft, being timed to take the loofpr 'fromithe needle at the-proper time and to,V transfer the same ,'tofthe looper, and thateuch. transferrer has three movementsone longitudinally toward and from the needle in a plane in tersectng that of the loop, anotherlaterall y toward and from the needle in the general plane of the loop, and the other downwardly and upwardly or in the same direction as the line of movement of the needle.

From the foregoing` it will be seen that .1inl operation the loop is taken directly from the needle :by the transfer-rer and is conveyed into position to be engaged by the leopcr vand removed by it from the transe ferrer, which takes place during the latter part of the passage of the needle through the work, .so that when the lo'oper commencesto draw the thread through thework and to carry such loop around the same to be engaged by the under thread the needle the work, so that the drawing of the thread therethrough "is facilitated. lt will also be seen thatrin; the improved organization of mechanisms herein shown the louper, the

loo

lis

' may be substantially or completely throne-l1 needle, the transferrer, the loop-talie-up, and the Worlrfeed may be all actuated from a single ordinary 'driving-shaft; and this without the use of gears or complicated mechanisms. A

Having described my invention, I claim-a 1. In a sewing-machine; the combination of stitch-forming mechanism comprising a needle and a two-'hook rotatable looper; and

means independent ofthe looper for trans-- ferring a loop froml said needle to each hook of said looper.

2. In a sewing-machine, the combination of a rotatable looper having a plurality of hooks; a rotatable driving-shaft therefor; a

needle; means connecting said needle with said driving-shaft and effectivek to vreciprocate said needle through" the work a pluralityof times, correspondingwith the num-v ber of hooks of said looper, foreach rotation` of said driving-shaft; and means independent of the looper for taking a loop from said needle and transferring it to each vhook of said looper. 25

. 3. In a sewing-machindthe combination of a two-hook rotatable looper; adrivingshaft therefor; a needle; means connecting said needle with said driving-shaft and ef# during each rotation of said drivingfshaft,

whereby a loop is formed for each hook of said looper, and comprising a rock-*shaft and a pivoted duplex lever linked to said rock-shaft and to said driving-shaft; and means for taking a loop from said needle and transferring it to a 'position where it will be engaged by a hook of the looper.

In a sewing machine, the, combination of stitch-fori'ning mechanism including al reciprocatory needle and -a looper located' bevond the field of direct eoperation with the needle7 a series of loop-'taking elements mounted on said looper, and a mechanism for taking a loop from the needle and transferring it to the elementscf the looper.

(l. In a sewing machine; the Acombination with a reciprocating needle,l of a rotatably mounted looper located beyond the field of direct cooperation with thel needle, means` for guiding said needle during a portion of its travel beneath the cloth plate, a transferrer which takes the loop directly from the needle, and means for advancing said ti'ansferrer in a circuitous path.

shaft. 3

7. In a sewing-machine, the combination of stitch-forming mechanism; and a combined 'cam and spring actuateddevice for taking a loop from one part of said stitchforming-mechanism and .transferring it to a position to be engaged by another part thereof which partis provided with a .plurality of loop-engaging' projections.

vS. In a sewiiig-machine, the combination of a rotatable looper having a plurality .of hooks; a driving-shaft therefor; a cam mounted thereon; needle mechanism; a transferrer for takingA a loop from said needleand transferring Ait to each hook of said looper; and means in operative connection with said transferrer and in engagement with said cam for operating. said:

transferrer.

` 9. In a sewing-machine, in combination with framework carryingI projections; a looper; a driving-shaft therefor; needle .mechanism including a needle located beyond the field of direct coperation Witii the looper; a 'transferrer provided' with a plurality 'of curved slots forthe receptionv of said projections; and means for actuating said tr'ansferrer whereby said projections coperating with said slots will effect the movement thereof in different.. directions.

" l0. Inl a'sevjving-machine, in combination with framework carrying projections; a rotatable. looper; a driving-shaft therefor; needle mechanism including a needle; a transferrer provided with a plurality of curved slots for the reception of said pro= jections; a rock-shaft connected with said transferrer; and means connecting said rock-shaftv and driving-shaft to operate-the transferier on the rotation of said4 driving- `."ll. ,In .sewing-machine, the combination with framework, of ltwo sets of intersect ing 'projections carried thereby; a -trans .ferrer provided with twosets of slots, one set for each set of -Said projections; arctatableV looper; a driving-shaft therefor;

needle mechanism' includinga needle; and

means for operating said transferrer.

l2. In a sewing-machine, the combination `with frameworlnof two sets of intersecting aY transferrer. provided with two sets'of slots, one set for projections' carried thereby;

each setof projections; a rotatable looper;

a driving-shaft-,the'refor carrying a cam;

needle mechanism including a needle; means in engagement with said cam and connected with said transferrer, whereby on 'the rota- .tion of said Adriving-shaft said transferrer is shifted; andV meansfor maintaining said transfeirer-connecting means in engagement with said cam.

13.A I-n la' sewing-machine, the combinae tion of stitch-forming mechanism including a looper and a needle; and an angular transferrcr adapted to move into position to ino iio

iso

Loeacae I im i overlap the periphery of said looper and' eec'tiveV to take a loop; from the needle and y transfer it to aposition away from the path of the-needle where it l*will be engaged by said-looper. f 4 l ,514e lin a sewing-machine, the combination ofstitch-orming mechanism including a rotatable looper and a needle; anda grooved` transferrer adapted to take a loop from said needle and -transfer'it to a' position where it will be engaged by said looper, thev groove of the transfe'rrer receiving the peripheryof the'looper. .15.- In ai `sewing-machine, the combination with a twohooked rotatable looper pro vided with-a series` ot sockets; of a drivingshaft having a' driver provided with driving-'pinsfor successively engagingsaid sock--A ets to .rotate saidlooper; a lreciproeatory needle; a rock-shaft connected therewith;

means connected .with said rock-shaft andV with said rotatable'driving-shaft for reciprocating said needle lthrough the work twice for .each` rotatillifoi" jtll'e driving-shaft; a loop takeeuploperatively connected with said vdriving-shaft; work-feed mechanism o eratively connected .fwith said driving-s iaft; and a transferrer also operatively connected with said drivingshaft for y*taking a loop frornsaid needle and transferring' itto each f hook of said looper.

16, ln a sewing.machinethecombination of stitch forming mechanism comprising parts each located out of the field of direct cooperation-with the' other, a frame, work member having setsv of intersecting projec- 'tions,v adriving shaft, a transferrer provided withsets of slots to receive said sets of projections, a rock shaft connected with said transferrer, and meansin operative connection with said .rock shaft .and connected with said driving shaft for actuating said transferrer.

' 17. In a sewing-machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism comprising parts each located out olf-the lield of direct cooperation with the other and a framework y member having two sets of intersecting pro jections, of a driving-shaft `carrying a, cam; a transferrer provided withltwosets of slots, one set for each A set of said-projections; a rock-shaft connected` with saidi trans'ferrer;

. and means in operative connection .with said rock-shaft and 1n :engagement with said cam for actuating said transferrer. p

18. The combination with stitch-forming mechanism comprising a rotatable looper, of a loop-transferrer omprising a pointed, angular loop-receiving member adapted to overlap the periphery of the rotatable looper; a shank having two sets of slots;

.and projections engaging said slots.

- 19. ln a sewing machine, the combination i ola looper having a plurality of loop receiving devieespreferably equidistantly disposed, a driving shaft therefor, a recipro- Y 20. ln a sewing machine the combination ot stitch forming mechanism including a y needle and a rotatable looper, a loop transferrer,u means for moving said transferrer into tha plane of movement of said looper for taking a loop from the needle and Inoving it bodily to one side thereof into posi-` tion to be engaged by said looper,` and driv- .ing connection betweenl said needle, looper and -transferrerkmoving means, constructed and timed for causing the needle to rise from the cloth prior to .the transferring.

movement and 'for `elltecting cooperative looper movements. n i readers n. nicininios. llitnesses1"'1--`l l! Fimo. d1oLn,.-L @Hams 

